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GEOGRAPHY 533/325 Middle East SPRING 2015

Burl Self, EdD, MAPA, MA, AICP—Professor Department of Geography [email protected] George Mason University Office location and hours: Exploratory 2218 W 4:30-7:30 p.m. Exploratory Hall L003

This graduate level course focuses on the study of people, trends and strategic resources affecting the Middle East. The Middle East and North Africa are regions of enormous geostrategic importance to global security and economic well being. The birthplace of Islam, Christianity and Judaism, it is the spiritual center of the majority of the world’s population. Our study areas include some of the world’s largest oil and gas fields, and the majority of the world’s gas and oil reserves.

The Middle East serves as the connective tissue of the continents of Europe, Africa and Asia. Located within this global crossroads lies some of the world’s most importance trade routes and military chokepoints, including the Suez Canal, the Turkish Straits, the Straits of Hormuz, and the Straits of Gibraltar.

Course objectives We will develop a solid knowledge base and awareness through research, report formulation, discussions and critique: Globally significant geostrategic value of the region; Transnational and geopolitical issues important to the region;insurgencies and national movements Religion and ethnographic patterns affecting the political geography of the region; Geography of the natural resources of oil, natural gas and water; Situation report on each current nation-state within the Middle East and North Africa.

Distinctions between graduate and undergraduate students Graduate students are expected to work at a more advanced level than upper level undergraduates I will clearly identify the expected learning goals and outcomes during each lecture/class period. Supplemental, advanced readings will be assigned to graduate students. Graduate students may expect more complex assignments and exam questions.

Grading Grading is based on the quality of individual research reports and the quality of participation in class discussions. I expect your reports to be your best work: concise, proofread, and well written. You must be able to informally present and defend your findings. Late work is unacceptable unless there is very good, defensible reason.

Grading Scale A 90-100% B 80-89% C 70-79% D 60-69%

Weekly Research Reports will be assigned weekly on topics identified in your course outline. Each must identify at least two sources (on a page separate from the report content). The report must be at least two pages (double-spaced) in length and submitted as print/copy. A comprehensive research project will be assigned.

Do not e-mail your research papers (print resources are limited)

mailto:[email protected]

Dr. Burl Self — GEOG 533 Middle East Fall 2014 of 22

- All Rights Reserved -

On-Line Resources

US Census Bureau Foreign Trade Statistics www.census.gov/foreign-trade/statistics US Imports – All countries from 2001 to 2005 http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/statistics/product/enduse/imports/index.html US Exports – All countries from 2001 to 2005 http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/statistics/product/enduse/exports/index.html US Central Intelligence Agency’s The World Factbook www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook US Digital Map Library http://www.rrotsweb.com/~usgenweb/maps US Library of Congress Research Centers – Country Studies http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/cshome.html US State Department

Background Notes www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn

The World Bank Countries & Regions: Data & Research www.worldbank.org Michigan State University Center for International Business Education and Research global EDGE http://globaledge.msu/ibrd/ibrd.asp University of North Carolina at Charlotte J. Murrey Atkins Library VIBES – Virtual International Business & economic Sources http://library.uncc.edu/vibes University of Texas at Austin

Perry- Castaneda Library Map Collection General Map Sites http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/iraq.html http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/map_sites/map_sites.html

http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/statistics

http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/statistics/product/enduse/imports/index.html

http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/statistics/product/enduse/exports/index.html

http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook

http://www.rrotsweb.com/~usgenweb/maps

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/cshome.html

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn

http://www.worldbank.org/

http://globaledge.msu/ibrd/ibrd.asp

http://library.uncc.edu/vibes

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/iraq.html

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/map_sites/map_sites.html



Week 1-2 The Historically Important

Area Defined: The Islamic World and Israel

Arab countries of North Africa

Arab countries of southwest Asia and Israel

Non-Arab countries of Asia

Turkey Afghanistan

Pakistan Iran

Central Asia: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan

Crossroads of Three Continents

Trade routes: Silk Road

Global choke points

Suez Canal

Hormuz Straits

Bab al-Mendeb

Straits of Gibraltar

Khyber Pass

Bolens Pass

Karakoram Pass

Historical Context

Ancient Middle East

Hunting and gathering died out over 5000 years ago, replaced with pastoral nomadism and settled agriculture. Oldest farming communities in the world.

Earliest known governments existed in Egypt and Sumer.

Kingdoms of Upper and Lower Nile were first kingdoms based on settled agriculture.

Indo-Europeans introduce horse

Egypt drove invaders out, Babylonians absorbed them.

Drier climate forced Phoenicians and Hebrews from Arabian Desert to coast, Syria, and

Mesopotamia.

Assyria – first iron age empire and long-range army.

Reign of Persia’s King Cyrus (550-529 BCE) to modern times: Middle East history centered on

rise and fall of successive multinational empires: Persia, Greece, Rome, Arabs, Seljuk Turks, Mongols, and Ottomans.

Alexander’s Conquest: Greek and Roman rule (including Byzantium). Rome and Carthage (modern Tunis).



Week 1-2 The Historically Important (cont’d)

Arabs Before Islam

Camel domesticated (3000-2000 BCE): Arabs began to wander the Arabian Peninsula in search of water and

grazing; raiding or guarding transit caravans.

Desert survival virtues emphasized: bravery, patience in misfortune, revenge, protection of the weak, defiance towards the strong, loyalty to tribe, hospitality, help for the needy, and fidelity in keeping promises.

Most practiced ancestor worship or animism (every object has a spirit).

Quraysh built a shrine (Ka’bah) at Mecca (main trade route between Syria and Yemen). Once a year, pilgrimage

to Mecca (360 idols representing gods of various tribes).

Arab Conquest

The Ummah led by Abu Bakr (the first Caliph, or successor, to Muhammad).

Umar ibn al-Khattab (2nd Caliph).

Tribal Arabs took Persia, Syria and Egypt; attacked Byzantine armies.

Arab armies conquered most of the Middle East in a generation and the old world in a century.

Turks – devout Sunnis built new cities; took large areas from Shiites. In 1071, they defeated the Byzantines in

Asia Minor.

1096 – Crusade to retake Jerusalem (held by Muslims for 400 years).

1453 – Turks end 1,000 years of Byzantine history by taking Constantinople.

Mongols – Far more damaging that Crusades.

Genghis Khan took Central Asia and eastern Persia.

Hulegu took Mesopotamia (1258)

1260 – Mameluks defeat Mongols at Battle of Ayn Jalut.

Role of the Military

Throughout the Middle East, the military continues to play and hold a critical role in statecraft, much more so than in the East.

The Middle East is one of the most militarized in the world — with 4% of the population, but 10% of the world’s armed forces.

Long tradition. Mameluks, Janissaries (Islamic slave-soldier societies). The USMC officer’s sword is referred to

as the “Mameluk Sword”.

1980’s and 1990’s accounted for 40% of global arms imports.

Military power accounts for the beginnings of many countries of the Middle East.

Abdul Aziz ibn Saud

Algerian FLN defeat by France

Muamman Quaddafi Libya – 1969

Israel- Military experience essential to political success in national elections

Baath Party (Iraq and Syria) membership essential for commissioning as officer

Women serve in the armed forces of Israel, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Syria and Turkey.



Weeks 3 and 4 The Geography of Modern War and Conflict in the Middle East World War I – Ottoman desire to retake the Balkans, expand to the Volga River, and expand into Iran and

Afghanistan, take the Suez and the Trans Caucasus.

British defeat at Kut

Sykes-Picot; Balfour Declaration

Arab Revolt (T.E. Lawrence)

Gallipoli

Armenian Genocide

Ottoman defeat and the re-drawing of the map of the Middle East (Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Jordan and Iraq)

Britain recognizes Saudi Arabia

Ibn Saud’s Ikhwan and the annexation of the Hejaz

The Horn of Africa (France, Britain and Italy)

Somalia

Ethiopia

Arabian Peninsula

Yemen and Aden

Trucial Oman and Trucial States

Kuwait

Arab-Israeli Conflict

Early origins of conflict

British Mandate

Partition of Palestine

Early Arab-Israeli relations

Wars as defining the political geography of the conflict

1956 Suez War

June 1967 War

October 1973 Ear

The PLO

Israeli invasion of Lebanon

The Intifada

Diplomacy

Camp David Accord

Post-Oslo



Weeks 3 and 4 The Geography of Modern War and Conflict in the Middle East (cont’d) The Arabian, or Persian, Gulf, southwest Asia

Iran-Iraq

Gulf War

Iraq War

Iraq Insurgency

Afghanistan

Pushtun Tribes and Al-Qaeda

Durand Line

USSR Invasion

Northern Alliance and Taliban; Hazaras, Uzbaks, Pashtuns and Tajiks



Week 5 & 6 Middle East Oil, Gas and Other Natural Resources

Distribution (Source: U.S. Department of Energy)

Oil

ESTIMATED TOTAL GLOBAL OIL RESERVES BY REGION IN BILLIONS OF BARRELS

REGION ESTIMATED OIL RESERVES

(billions of barrels) PERCENTAGE (%) OF TOTAL

Middle East 676.9 66.4

Latin America 86.2 8.5

Africa 70.1 6.9

North America 67.3 6.6

Russia and Eastern Europe 59.0 5.8

Far East 42.3 4.1

Western Europe 18.3 1.8

Total 1020.1 100.0%

Gas

ESTIMATED TOTAL GLOBAL GAS RESERVES BY REGION IN TRILLIONS OF CUBIC FEET

REGION ESTIMATED GAS RESERVES

(trillions of cubic) PERCENTAGE (%) OF TOTAL

Russia and Eastern Europe 2000.4 39.3

Middle East 1726.1 33.9

Africa 348.6 6.9

Far East 320.6 6.3

North America 296.1 5.8

Latin America 222.3 4.4

Western Europe 173.1 3.4

Total 5087.2 100.0%



Week 5 & 6 Middle East Oil, Gas and Other Natural Resources (cont’d)

Most Middle East oil can be extracted at a cost of less than $3 per barrel

Significant Concentrations in Middle East and SW Asia

Oil Gulf Countries

Saudi Arabia 1st 261.5

Iraq 2nd 112.5

UAE 3rd 97.8

Kuwait 4th 96.5

Oman 5th 5.2

Oil North Africa

Libya 1st 29.5

Algeria 2nd 9.2

Egypt 3rd 3.8

Oil SW Asia

Kazakhstan 1st 5.4

Uzbekistan 2nd 0.6

Turkmenistan 3rd 0.5

Gas Gulf Countries

Iran 1st 810.0

Qatar 2nd 300.0

UAE 3rd 204.9

Saudi Arabia 4th 190.5

Iraq 5th 109.8

Gas North Africa

Algeria 1st 130.6

Libya 2nd 46.3

Egypt 3rd 27.6

Gas SW Asia

Turkmenistan 1st 101.2

Uzbekistan 2nd 66.2

Kazakhstan 3rd 65.0



Week 5 & 6 Middle East Oil, Gas and Other Natural Resources (cont’d)

Role of Supranational Organizations

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)

Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)

Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC)

Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC)

League of Arab States

Pipeline Geography

Transarabian

Jubail to Yenbou

Central Asia

Turkey, Iran and the Caucasus

Choke Points: Global Strategic Interests and Movement of Oil and Gas

Suez

Turkish Straits: Dardenelles, Seam of Marmara, and the Bosporous

Hormuz Straits

Bab al-Mendeb

Gibraltar

Location and Defense

Oil and gas located far from refining and markets

Must travel thousands of miles in tankers that are difficult to defend and in pipelines that are unsecured

(Tanker War 1980-88)

Role of Transnational Corporations

British Petroleum, Amoco and ARCO (1988-99) and Azerbaijan (merger)

Exxon and Mobil (1998) - $80 billion (merger)

Shell and Texaco (1997) (merger)

Saudi-ARAMCO (buy out)

Kuwait Petroleum Corporation

If they cooperated with each other Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Iran could supply 50% of the world’s oil needs



A photo of Mecca's Shrine (the Kaba) taken in 1950

“Maqam Ibrahim”

The Shahada inscribed over entrance

to Ottoman Topkapi Palace (the museum contains a mantle worn

by the Prophet, among other treasures), Istanbul.

Week 7 Islam

Geography and Theology

A world religion, ranking in population behind only Buddhism and

Christianity. One-fifth of the world population professes the faith.

Places

Most important - spiritual center is Makkah (Mecca) with the Ka’bah

(means “cube shape”). Ibrahim (called Abraham by Jews and Christians) prayed there.

“The Hajj starts and finishes at the Great Mosque at Makkah on 8th Dhul-Hijjah and 13th Dhul-Hijjah. The Ka'bah is at the centre. Pilgrims starting the Hajj also go to Maqam Ibrahim, Ibrahim's place, for prayer of two rakats. In the courtyard of the Great Mosque is Zamzam, the well where pilgrims drink after moving between the two hills on the walkway. This all signifies the water found by Ibrahim's wife Hajar who ran between the two hills looking for water for their son

Isma'il.”

Al-Quds (Jerusalem) first night journey there and from al-Quds to heaven,

the place closest to heaven.

Muslim scripture: 114 Surahs or chapters—slightly shorter in length than the New Testament. Sirah is the biography of Muhammand.

He was 40 years old when he received his first revelation from God. He died in 632 A.D., 22 years later. The revelation (Quran) came to

Muhammand through the intermediary Gabriel (Jibril).

The Sunnah of the Prophet (life) is a model that Muslims try to follow. Five Basic Tenets

Five Pillars Five Social Doctrines

Five Basic Tenets

There is only "one God", Allah, creator of the whole universe, who is just, compassionate, and merciful. The absolute unity and power resides in

God. Creator of life and death, the guide to righteous, the friend and protector of the sick and the poor. He chastises eternally the infidels to Hell,

and he rewards the faithful with eternal Heaven. "Allah", "The God", comes from "Al" ("The"), and "Illah" ("God")... not just

"a God", but "The God", for there is only one. Believe in "Angels", who

intercede with Allah for the forgiveness of the faithful.

"Muhammad" - the last of the great prophets. Jewish prophets and Jesus

were his predecessors.

The "Koran"- the last of the sacred books, including the Torah, Psalms,

and Gospels of Jesus.

"Life on Earth", is a test and only a preparation for the eternal life to come. the "faithful" are those who adore Allah, praise the Prophet

Muhammad, obey the Koran doing good deeds, and fulfill the 5 pillars of Islam.

The Koran forbids representation of human and animal figures. It denounces usury, games of chance, alcohol, pork... "pride" is a cardinal sin.

The "Final Judgment": The faithful will go to eternal Heaven, and the

infidels to eternal Hell, with the vividly rewards and punishments recorded in the Koran



Week 7 Islam (cont’d)

Five Pillars of Islam (Arkan al-Islam)

Belief: Shahadah – confession of faith. There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet".

Salat: Ritual prayers five times a day (dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset and night)

Charity (Zakat) is often a function of the state in the Middle East

Fasting (Sawm) Ramadan

Hajj

The jhad is often included in the above by some Muslims (Jihad means making an effort or striving).

Divisions and Unities

Shi’a: Differ on line of successorship from Muhammand and Islamic law

Ali should have been the first successor or Caliph. The Immam

elevated to greater importance than the Caliph. Veneration of tombs and shrines.

Sufi: Overlaps both Shi’a and Sunni Islam. Sufi Orders (Tarigahs) important expression of personal piety and social

organization. Orders often centered around shrines, locations and

grand masters. “The term Sufi has been adopted by New Age practitioners; bears no relationship to Islam.”

Sunni: Derived from word “Sunnah”, and is meant to indicate adherence to the customary practice of the Prophet Muhammand.

Rule of the Caliph open to any man from Muhummand’s tribe, the Quraysh.. It is both a religious and socio-political system.

Schools of Islam (Madhhab)

Hanafi – Traditions based on towns of Basrah and Kufah.

Hanbali – Most stringent; Wahhabis; official school of Saudi

Arabia.

Maliki – Madinah; conservative and based on tradition.

Shafii – Islamic law based on the Quran. Cairo.

Selected Terms

Shaykh – elder leader Shariah – path to the watering hole; Islamic law.

Sayyid – lord, master. Muslim saints and descendants of the Prophet.

Shaid – martyr, one who bears witness. Shaytan – the devil or Satan.

Sharif – high born, descendant of the prophet. Taliban – seeker or student.

Najaf – Tomb of Ali in Iraq.

Isa – Jesus. A prophet mentioned many times in the Quran. Predicted the coming of Muhammand.

In the end, he will kill the anti-Christ and pray the dawn prayer with the Imam.



Week 8 Water

Nowhere in the world is water more important or conflict more prone than in the Middle East and North Africa.

The area comprises 5% of the world’s population, but only 1% of its fresh water. Both Muslim and Jewish scriptures are full of references to

water.

Role of climate. Bulk of rain falls in four winter months – none the rest of the year. Only 10% of river flow is predictable. Population growth

rates are high. The future appears to be higher temperatures and less rainfall. Almost all states in the area devote full ministries to manage

water resources.

Major drainage and population basins: Nile – Blue and White Niles and Atbara

Tigris and Euphrates Baghdad divided by Tigris River (false color image) http://www.fas.org/irp/imint/docs/rst/Front/overview2.html

Shatt al-Arab

Tigris and Euphrates rivers meet at Al Qurnah, where river changes name to Shatt al Arab river. The river flows into Persian Gulf after meeting Karun River flowing from Zagros Mountain. Jazirat Bubiyan Island is at the southern tip of the delta, and border between Iraq and Kuwait runs across the island. White areas along the coastline and at southern part of the island are considered salt left after water evaporated. Source: ASTER’s Global View from Earth

Jordan (three springs through Sea of Galilee) into earth’s lowest point – the Dead Sea

Turkey – only Turkey has a great deal of river water



Water Issues: Quantity, Quality, Equity (cont’d)

10% of region’s water comes from shallow alluvial and deep rock aquifers (containing water that may be thousands of years old).

Deep Sandstone Aquifers in the Middle East

Source: www.unu.edu/.../unupbooks/80858e/80858E12 Masahiro Murakami. Managing Water for Peace in the Middle East: Alternative Strategies United Nations University Press.1995

Major Groundwater Basins in the Middle East

Source: www.unu.edu/.../unupbooks/80858e/80858E12

Masahiro Murakami. Managing Water for Peace in the Middle East: Alternative Strategies. United Nations University Press.1995



Hydrostrategic Territory

Source: Aaron T. Wolf, 1995. Hydropolitics along the

Jordan River: Scarce Water and its Impact on the Arab-Israeli Conflict. United Nations University Press. Tokyo.

www.unu.edu/.../unupbooks/80859e/80859E0q

Source: Israeli Foreign Ministry. Map from AIPAC.

Water Issues: Quantity, Quality, Equity (cont’d)

In Israel and Jordan, 50% In parts of the Arabian Peninsula, 100%.

Recycled sewage is third most important source of water.

More than 50% of the world’s desalination capacity is found in the

region.

90% of water is used in agriculture, versus 60% agricultural usage in industrial countries.

Quantity

Most endowed (1 million cubic meters per capita):

Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Sudan and Turkey.

Middle range:

Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Morocco, Palestine.

Least endowed:

Jordan, Libya, Tunisia, Arabian Peninsula (less than 500 cubic meters

per capita (MCM))

By 2025, household and industrial use in the Jordan Basin will require all available water

Quality

Most of the region’s surface water is polluted by agriculture, sewage,

etc.

Equity

Future wars will be fought over water (none for last several hundred years)

Yarmuk – contested by Syria, Jordan and Israel

National Water Carrier – diverts Jordan water to the Negev and Tel

Aviv

West Bank – Arab settlements (water rationed)

Israeli settlements (water not rationed)



Week 9 The Mahgrib – Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania, Algeria, Libya and Tunisia

Morocco

History – Rif and Saharan Berbers

Constitutional Monarchy – Defender of the Faithful. Strong relations with Africa South.

Western Sahara – Phosphates; war with Algeria; Polisario Front; Sahrawi Tribe.

50% literacy; 80% for women in rural areas

Spanish and French Morocco.

Al-Qaeda

Morocco recognized the U.S. in 1777 – longest unbroken treaty relationship in U.S. history.

Mauritania

Most White and Black Moors (Berbers and Africans)

Islamic warrior monks (Almoravid) conquered region; recently Francaphone (French West Africa)

Ethnic conflict major barrier in unification.

Small economic base; heavily indebted; poor relations with Senegal.

Algeria (second largest state in Africa)

Arab-Berber-Sunni Moslem

Primary resources are oil and gas

Truce: long civil war

National Liberation Front (FLN) and French counter-insurgency; Maurice line.

Algerian Islamists and civil war; leading military power in region.

Libya (Greek term for all of North Africa except Egypt)

Egypt without a Nile – mostly rock and desert. 75% of food is imported.

Libyan crude oil is quality benchmark against which all other Middle East suppliers are measured

Geopolitically in advantageous position to supply oil to Europe; 97% of economy is oil based.

20 meter pipelines constructed to carry fossil water from south to coast.

December 2003 Libya announced that it was ridding itself of all WMD and missile resources (did not want to go

the way of Iraq). 1988 war with Chad (Azoud Strip). 9/20/04 U.S. sanctions ended.

Libya continues to involve itself in internal affairs all over Africa.



Week 9 The Mahgrib (cont’d)

Tunisia

Cartage, Rome, Arab, Turk, have all left their mark on Tunisia

Tunis built by Arabs (who did not like Carthage)

Geopolitically important: Battle of Zama (Africans and Hannibal) Kaireowan important Arab spiritual and military center in 7th Century Arab conquest. “March on Tunis” key to Allied victory in North Africa during WWII.

Francophone (independent in 1956); small Jewish population. A secular republic.

Good relations with the U.S. A voice for moderation in the Middle East.

Week 10 Egyptians and the Sudan

Egypt

Anglo-Egyptian Sudan; war with Britain; the Mahdist war in Sudan.

Nile Basin hydropolitics; Lake Nasser.

Antiquities (Giza, Abu Sembel, Karnak)

Largest and most powerful on African continent

1973 war with Israel and the Sinai Bar-Lev Line

Coptic Christians

Cairo (built by the Arabs) is Africa’s largest city

Invaders

Persian (Cambyses) 525 B.C. (Persian Army of 50,000 disappears in sandstorm)

Alexander the Great (Siwa Oasis) 322 B.C.

Arabs 642 A.D.

The breadbasket of Rome

Suez Canal

A military and strategic partner of the U.S.

Sudan

“Allah laughed when he created the Sudan” – a region of sharp contrasts

Muslim – Arabized north; black African south. Long civil war; continues ethnic and religious conflict in Darfur (oil rich); genocide.

White and Blue Niles; Atbara

80% of work force in agriculture

Military dictatorship; civil war has displaced over 4 million southerners

Recently oil exports doubled per capita GDP



Week 11 Israel, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan

Israel-Palestine Mandate

Jerusalem declared capital in 1950 U.S. (and others) still maintain embassy in Tel Aviv

Three broad Jewish groups and others

Ashkenazim (west, central and eastern Europe); Sephardim (Spain, North Africa) Eastern or Oriental Jews

Non-Jews: 73% Muslim; 10.5% Christian; 10% Druze

6.4 million (5.2 million Jews)

Economy

Defense

Gem processing

Intellectual products

Ranks second only to Canada in number of companies on NYSE

U.S.’ largest trade partner

Institutions for settlement and integration

Kubbutz

Moshav

Ulpan

West Bank and Golan (1967 War)

Lebanon

Only resources: water and limestone. Services comprise 67.3% of GDP, agriculture 11.7%, industry 21.0%

Lebanese pound pegged to U.S. dollar.

No census since 1932. Roughly 60% Muslim, 40% Christian

1975-1990 Civil War. Invaded by Israel in 1978 and 1982.

Historic home to the Phoenicians

Sykes-Picot (1915) mandated area to French (who withdrew in 1946)

Amal, Hizballah; Syrian final withdrawal April, 2005. Syria considers Lebanon part of Greater Syria.

Confessionalized personality based politics most important – not parties. Palestinians remain not active in

Lebanese politics.

May, 2000 – Israel withdrew all forces from Lebanon ending 22 years of occupation.

Syria

Center of one of the most ancient civilizations on earth. Damascus the oldest continuously inhabited city in the

world.

Population composed of Sunnis (74%), 16% other Muslims (Alawi, Shia and Druze), 10% Christian; small Jewish community.

French used poison gas against Syrian rebels after WWII.

Baath Party, the Alewis and the Syrian army.

Lake Assad, Turkey and the Euphrates issue.



Week 11 Israel, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan (cont’d)

Jordan (Hashemite Kingdom)

Kingdom, whose political geography was defined by Britain (Sykes-Picot Agreement) in 1915

70% urban (Amman); settled initially by Semitic Armorites, followed by: Hittites, Egyptians, Israelites,

Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Crusaders, Mameluks, Ottoman Turks and British

Constitutional Monarchy

Very small resource base: energy resources come from Egypt (gas) and GCC countries (oil)

Follows pro-west foreign policy; peace treaty with Israel October, 1994

The Arab Legion and John Baggot Glubb

Akaba and T.E. Lawrence

Week 12 Iraq, Iran and Turkey

Iraq

A new country in 1932 (post WWI) created by Britain as a result of the Sykes-Picot Agreement with France. “What are we doing putting a Sunni King on the throne of Shiite Nation” – T.E. Lawrence

Almost land-locked (by British design)

South Channel of the Shatt-al-Arab (confluence of Tigris and Euphrates Rivers)

Long history as a major power core of the Middle East (Assyria, Babylon, etc.) – the cradle of civilization.

Second largest oil reserves in the world.

More holy sites and Islamic political significance than any other nation state (Karbala, Najaf and

Baghdad). Before it was called Iraq, the region was referred to as Mesopotamia.

People: 60% Shi’a; 5% Christian; remainder largely Sunni (small numbers of Jews, Yazidis, Sabeans). 80%

Arab with the remainder mostly Kurds (2 dialects: Sorani and Karmanj). Other small communities of Turkomen, Assyrians, Armenians.

Two cities: Baghdad (over 5 million) and Basra (1.5 million) predominate. Kirkuk (500,000+) and Mosul (1

million) are also important. The majority of the 25 million Iraquis live in a vast alluvial plain from Basra to the Syrian border (Tigris and Euphrates River valleys).

Political Trends and Events

1970 Iraq nationalized oil industry

Kurdish revolt in 1970’s (supported by Israel and U.S.) Saddam Hussein’s agreement with Iran quashed

the revolt.

1979 Hussein assumed presidency and then purged the ruling Baath Party

Iran-Iraq War 1980-88; 88-90 country re-built; then Hussein turned against Kurds.

OPEC dispute with UAE and Kuwait; Iran then invaded Kuwait 2 August 1990. 43 Days Gulf War

destroyed Iraq’s infrastructure, but not the Army.

War in Iraq 2003

Army destroyed and disbanded (now allowed to rejoin)



Week 12 Iraq, Iran and Turkey (cont’d)

Iraq - Political Trends and Events (cont’d)

Elite units told to stockpile weapons in urban areas to prepare for clandestine war with the U.S.

Iraq’s army rebuilding in 2005, national elections successful

Federation? Shia, Sunni, Kurd, Turkomen states

Iran (a theocratic republic) Ruling Shi’a jurist

Large population of 67 million people; a young population (40% under 15 years old). Declining birth rate.

Urban population. Tehran contains over 7 million people. 80% of Iranian origin.

Large, high plateau. Dead heart Dash Kauir (a salt desert).

Mostly Shiite; 90% of all Shia Muslims in world live in Iran.

1979 revolution – Shah deposed. 66 Amer5icans held hostage until 1981.

Economy dependent on oil. Only one-fourth of Iran is arable, the other three-fourths receive less than 10

inches of rainfall a year. All water in Iran is owned by the national government.

Iran-Contra Affair – U.S. political scandal (North, Bush, McFarlane, Poindexter, Secord).

Tanker War in Gulf, 1980-88.

Iraq made extensive use of chemical weapons against Iran and Kurds during war.

Turkey (Asia Minor)

Formed in 1923 from Central Regions of Ottoman Empire. Authoritarian, one party state until 1946 with three

military coups since.

Around 68 million people. The capital, Ankara, was a small market town in 1923.

Lots of water, little oil. Headwaters of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers located here; Staturk Dam.

Byzantine Empire; Constantinople, Istanbul. Strategically important Turkish Straits.

Central Asian Oil and Gas and the Ceyhan Pipeline. New Silk Road.

Agriculture and Mining important contributors to economy (20% of GNP for agriculture).

Mustafa Kemal (later adopted name Ataturk, or “Father of the Turks”), modernized and secularized country.

Turkey the reason for NATO – “Nicolaus Spykman and USSR containment”.

Today, Turkey is a Big Emerging Market (BEM) with high foreign policy priority of U.S.



Week 13 The Arabian Peninsula States – Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, Kuwait, UAE, Qatar and Bahrain

Saudi Arabia

Contains Islam’s holiest cities, Mecca and

Medina, and the world’s largest oil reserves and Ghawar, the world’s largest oil field.

The Najd is the historic center of the country which first emerged under the tribal

leadership of Ibn Saud around 1900.

Most oil is found in eastern region, sometimes referred to as the al-Ahasa (Dhahran,

Dammam and Khobar).

The al-Hijaz borders the Red Sea and

contains the second largest city and largest port (Jedda).

Rub al-Khali (Empty Quarter)

Asur (mountains)

First oil reserves found in 1938; production

began in late 1940’s.

Hanbal Islam – Wahhabis or Unitarians

The National Guard (White Bn.) serves as a

counterbalance to regular armed forces. Recruited only from seven tribes of the Nejd.

Two families rule Saudi Arabia: the al-Sauds and Al-Rashid of Hail. Al-Saud control was established by surprise attack on Riyadh in 1902.

Did not allow use of bases in 2003 Iraq War. U.S. then established bases in Qatar. Except for training, U.S.

forces left. “This was a key Al-Qaeda demand.”

Yemen

Created in 1990 by merging YAR and PDRY

Largest population of all Arab peninsula states, and the poorest. Not a member of GCC.

One of few states in the world without completely demarcated borders.

YAR-led by free market tribal and military elite. PDRY-communist. The old border is still important.

War with Saudi Arabia in 1934. Lost Asir and Najran. Marib-oil and renewed conflict with Saudi Arabia. Dispute (war) with Eritrea for Red Sea Islands in mid-1990’s.

Largest city is Sana – mentioned in the Bible as Uzal. Aden is important and best port on the Peninsula. Hodeida is north Yemen’s most important Red Sea Port.

A largely decentralized population living in villages of less than 200 people (the most in the world).

Islam. North-Yazidis (Shia). South-Sunni (Shafis).

Known as Arabia Felix 2,000 years ago. Monopoly over trade in frankincense and myrrh. Once broken, Yemen

retreated from world stage.



Week 13 The Arabian Peninsula States (cont’d)

Oman (Trucial Oman, Muscat) the Sultanate since 1970

Ibadi Islam (Imam as leader)

Agriculture and fish until 1967 when oil exports began (90% of exports by value).

Masira first forward deployment base for U.S. military in Gulf – small island off coast of Oman.

Hormuz Straits and Musandem Peninsula largely controlled (southside only) by Oman.

Kuwait

A close partner of Britain in establishing links between India and Europe before Suez. Granted political

independence by UK in 1961.

No freshwater. Traditionally shipped from the Shatt al-Arab.

Large oil reserves.

Kuwaiti citizens (legally defined) 40% of population. Bidun (without citizenship) about quarter million. Many Palestinians deported for their support for Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait in 1990. Most are urban living in

Kuwait City.

Al Sabah, Dynastic, patriarchal government. Uncertainty over ruler succession is most serious political problem

today.

United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Formerly referred to as Pirate Coast and Trucial States.

Abu Dhabi 87% of area; Dubai 5%; Sharjah 3%. Ras al-Khayma, Fujayra, Umm al-Qaywayn, Ajman occupy the

remainder.

Dubai is the world center of Arab finance.

80% of total population are foreign workers. An urban nation.

UAE’s non-oil sector accounts for 60% of GDP.

The Emirates are ruled as independent nations, or Shaykdoms.

Qatar

One of the highest per capita incomes in the world.

Governed by Shaykh. Boundary disputes with both Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. U.S. military’s Gulf headquarters located at Doha.

Major pearling and shipbuilding center.

Gained independence from the U.K. in 1971.

Al Thani ruling family

Qatar armored cavalry units led coalition forces in liberation of Kuwait in 1991.

Large oil and gas reserves.

Liberalizing social environment.



Week 13 The Arabian Peninsula States (cont’d)

15 miles off northeast coast of Saudi Arabia, connected by causeway to mainland.

The Al Kahlifa ruling family is a branch of the Bani Utub confederation which conquered the area of 1782.

An area of unrest until taken over by British India in 1890’s. In 1973, granted independence. Political parties and trade unions are prohibited by constitution.

Member of OAPEC, but not OPEC, due to small remaining oil reserves. The Bahrain Oil Company was for many

decades Britain’s most important source of Gulf oil.

Shia conflicts and support for Iran have on occasion de-established Manama the capital. Shia are not allowed in

Bahrain’s armed forces.

Dilmun Civilization one of the world’s oldest is found throughout the island.

Week 14 Afghanistan and Central Asia

Ethnicity

Important in understanding the politics and

leadership of Afghanistan

Pashtun 45%

Tajik 25-30%

Hazara 12-15%

Uzbeks 10%

Religion

Hanafi Sunni 80%

Shia 20%

Soviet Invasion – Stinger missiles turned the

tide of battle.

British Invasions – Defeat especially during the

first Anglo-Afghan War of 1838.

Tribal. Never successfully conquered and held by any army in history, including the Greeks (Alexander), Mongols, Persian, British and Russians.

Geopolitically important (Central Asia oil and gas pipelines). Khyber Pass is the gateway to Central Asia and into South Asia.

Rural and poor population. One of the least industrialized countries in the world.

Taliban – Burqa or Hijab – female repression and seclusion.

Karzai – a Pashtun endorsed by the Loya Jerga (Grand Assembly) in July 2002. Now president.

Mojahedin fighters.

Northern Alliance (non-Pashtun).

Pakistan

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